Interlibrary Loan

If Howard County Library System does not own a specific item, it may be requested via Interlibrary loan. ILL includes the Marina system which is comprised of the public libraries in Maryland, and OCLC which enables searches of academic and public libraries throughout the United States

How to make a request

  • Enter your entire Howard County Library System card number, without spaces.
  • Click on Login
  • Type title, author or subject into search box
  • Click Search
  • You can limit results by date, format, author, or subject using navigation on the left side of results page.
  • You can also sort results by relevance, title, newest or oldest using the drop downs above the results on the right
  • Click on the Title to view availability and to place the request.
  • Select a pickup location from the pull down menu (if item is owned by HCLS, instead you’ll be presented with a link to our catalog where you can place the request locally)
  • Click on Request You will be given a request number. If you have an email address associated with your library account with HCLS, you will receive an email confirming your request number.
  • If no results are found, you may click on Request Loan to fill out the form and initiate an OCLC request. This form will then go to our Interlibrary Loan department who will search for it outside of the Marina system.
  • Click on Back to search results to search for another title and place a new request.

About Marina Requests

  • A Howard County Library System card is needed to request and borrow items through Marina. A+ Educator cards may not be used.
  • Each county determines what kind of materials they will lend. Some libraries do not lend CDs and DVDs and may have other policies that prevent requests.
  • Materials not yet published or published less than six months ago are considered too new to request.
  • Items may take longer than two weeks to arrive at the HCLS branch that you designate as your pickup location. These materials can be borrowed for 3 weeks and will automatically renew 1 time for an additional 3 weeks. They may not be renewed more than once.

About OCLC Requests

For materials not owned by any Marina library, you have the option to complete a request form in Marina. ILL staff will search for your title in academic and public libraries throughout the United States. Some of these libraries may charge borrowing fees.

  • A Howard County Library System card is needed to request and borrow items through Marina. A+ Educator cards may not be used.
  • When you request it, please note on the form the maximum cost ($5 and up) you are willing to pay. Fees are payable at the time of pick up.
  • It may take longer than two weeks for these materials to arrive depending on availability and delivery methods.
  • Lending libraries determine the length of time their materials can be borrowed. Loan periods will vary among lending libraries and may be shorter or longer than 21 days.
  • These materials cannot be renewed. Failure to return OCLC items promptly may result in lenders suspending borrowing privileges
  • Materials not yet published or published less than six months ago are considered too new to request.
  • Streaming media, e-books and other electronic resources cannot be borrowed through interlibrary loan

Review your requests

After logging into Marina with your barcode number, click on My Account in the upper right-hand corner by this icon:

Marina will automatically show all Open Requests, but you can click on All Requests to see your request history.

Clicking on Article, Book or Book Chapter will open a blank request form to initiate an OCLC request. Include as much detail as possible about the material being requested when completing this form. Once submitted ILL staff will search for the title at academic and public libraries throughout the United States.